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Sung Sikyung – Tomorrow’s Things to Do (Yoon Jongshin) [KOR/ENG]

As part of Yoon Jongshin’s Monthly Melody releases, Sung Sikyung covered Yoon Jongshin’s “Tomorrow’s Things to Do (내일 할 일)” and Yoon Jongshin covered Sung Sikyung’s “On the Road (거리에서)“; amongst the various Monthly Melody releases I’ve listened to over the year, this particular song stuck, with its melody, music video, and Sung Sikyung’s cover of it. The Korean title “내일 할 일” can perhaps be translated more simply to “Tomorrow’s Obligations” or “Tomorrow’s Tasks,” but I thought the term “할 일” most literally and precisely referred to things that one needs to or should do, and that “Tomorrow’s Things to Do” would aptly capture this meaning. (I’m still a bit ambivalent as to whether “Tomorrow’s Things to Do” or “Things to Do Tomorrow” is a more precise translation, though.)

On a side note, I think it’s quite significant and meaningful that the last line ends on the word “last.” (The sentence is structured so that it literally reads “[of] the many meetings we had, the last,” although I wrote it as “[in] the last of the many meetings we had” in my translation for clarity.) Ending the lyrics on the word “last” seems to sum up the content of the song lyrics as a whole in causing the listener to dwell last on the word “last”; because the parting described by the lyrics is exactly supposed to be that – the “last” of meetings between lovers and other accompanying emotions given a break-up. And that the last line isn’t a complete sentence or even part of one conveys a feeling of incompleteness, as if a break-up causes one to feel like he/she’s left to cling onto something unsubstantial with uncertain anticipation.

I should wake up early [this morning], tomorrow’s the day we’ll separate
[I feel as if] I must meet you with an appearance much better than normal
As if I don’t have the slightest worry,
[I should bear a] composed expression; anyhow, it’s best that we forget each other

After our separation, as I search online alone, unsatisfactory movies [come up]
From deafening my heart to stealing my tears (stealing: lit. picking out)
Tomorrow will be a tough day (tough: lit. ‘tight’ as in scraping/scratching a living)
[At] our meeting, I should send you and pretend to be calm

Goodbye, my love of old, [I] spend the whole day preparing for [our] separation
[How I will fare in] the aftermath of your departure is unclear
Your parting expression that doesn’t appear no matter how much I [try to] call it to mind,
I’m bound to see as this night passes

Even if [I’m] okay tomorrow, starting from the following next day
I haven’t made yet one preparation –
what I am to do from that day on

Goodbye, my love of old, [I] spend the whole day preparing for [our] separation
[How I will fare in] the aftermath of your departure is unclear
Your parting expression that doesn’t appear no matter how much I [try to] call it to mind,
I’m bound to see as this night passes